A semi final defeat is much easier to take when we were clearly beaten by the better team. Not often a tight scoreline reflects a pretty one sided game.

I thought you were on track to win the previous game against Connacht until the flying headbutt (30 seconds after he told the ref there would be no more shenanigans from him!).

The semi though was pretty clear-cut. You were missing a couple of important players and it showed. What has happened to Strauss? Has his beard developed the same disorder as Chabal's caught?

Think with losing Favaro early on we lost any balance in back row.

Strauss has been OK but been off the boil all season - as have too many players. Realistically (especially given where we were at Christmas) we're just glad to have made the playoffs!

I think our very disjointed season finally caught up with us. We've used something like 70 players! We threw the kitchen sink at Connacht but just weren't good enough- we need a talisman and had little impact from the bench. Desperately need some new signings for next year.

know he got injured in the semi but Russell picked a bad time of year to lose form, Weir could be missed next season

Off the top of my head most of those are going to Edinburgh . Russell hasn't played that well all season- Weir has been in much better form. We've struggled for a settled half-back pairing. Although the limited news we're getting on Russell is very concerning. First and foremost I hope he makes a full recovery, rugby comes after that.

Must have been a tough year for Johnny Gray as captain as well- he's got a lot of growing into the role imo but then he's only, what, 21? John Muldoon he ain't. Yet!

LeRouxIsPHat wrote:Does the fact that they mentioned surgery mean it's his neck and not concussion?

Not necessarily. I heard rumours of an eye socket injury so I wondered if his eye itself was the problem. Or could be a head injury that potentially required surgery? No one publically knows. He was transferred to Beaumont which must be significant in itself in that he's clearly not fit to fly home.

LeRouxIsPHat wrote:Does the fact that they mentioned surgery mean it's his neck and not concussion?

Not necessarily. I heard rumours of an eye socket injury so I wondered if his eye itself was the problem. Or could be a head injury that potentially required surgery? No one publically knows. He was transferred to Beaumont which must be significant in itself in that he's clearly not fit to fly home.